Do you have a list of goals you would like to achieve this year?
Can you tell me something that is on that list?
We all have lists of things we would like to do this year, this month, this week, maybe you even have something you would like to do today.
I have a list of goals, things I would like to achieve - it’s not written down anywhere I keep it all in my head:
The 1st is to finish all of the essays that I need to complete as part of my ministerial training.
The 2nd is to develop a deeper relationship with God and spend more time in prayer.
The 3rd is to find the time to carry on learning to play the Saxophone.
There are many other things on my list,
some are more important than others.
There are some things that I would like to do,
some things I have to do,
some things that I will struggle to find the time to do,
and others I may never manage to find the time for.
There are lots of things that we have to do each day
Sometimes the things we choose to do can get in the way of the things we should be doing.
My life is pretty busy most days, and I need to choose how I use my time.
Over the last month I’ve changed my working week around a bit so that I can dedicate the required time to do my essays.
I’ve spent more time in prayer.
But as much as I enjoy learning to play the saxophone - its been sitting in the cupboard for months.
This week I had a choice on Thursday, I could spend time praying and writing this sermon, or I could have dusted off my saxophone and practiced for a few hours.
I’ve had to make a choice in how I’ve spent my time because I simply can’t do everything.
Personally, I don’t want to make choices that reduce the amount of time I spend praying or drawing near to God.
I’m sure we all put aside some time each day to spend with God, we pray, read our bibles, maybe a daily devotional, maybe you even sing as you walk around your house.
But sometimes we can allow the busyness of daily life to crowd out time with God.
And sometime we just choose to do what we prefer to do instead of what God wants us to do.
The Author C.S. Lewis wrote, “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists of shoving it all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”
We can allow life to crowd out time with God, or we can choose to spend some quality time with Him each and every day.
We all need to take an opportunity to step aside from the busyness of life and just be still in the presence of God.
In the fast, busy, do it now, instant world that we live in, we need to press pause, be still and pray.
Psalm 46:10 says: “Be still, and know that I am God!”
I think it’s fair to say that all of us need to take a little more time each day to be still don’t we?
We need to avoid getting so caught up in our own agenda that we force God out of the way.
Be honest, right now, are you more concerned that the service finishes on time than you are about having adequate time to draw closer to God this morning?
On a Monday night are you more concerned about watching whatever SOAP or programme is on TV at 7pm than spending time at the church prayer meeting?
We can be so caught up in what the world considers useful or pleasurable activity, that we ignore what should be the most important aspect of our lives - quality time with the God who loves us and cares for us.
Hebrews 4:16 reminds us to come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
When we take the time to be still, when we take the time to pray, God listens.
God is always available, He is never too busy to listen, but too often we lose our focus, God is meant to be at the centre of our lives, not pushed to the side or ignored.
We need to be still and pray and draw near to Him.
We need to be a people of prayer.
We need to come before God with our thanks, our requests, our praise, our adoration, our confession of sin, our prayers for guidance.
We need to take the time to be still and pray.
We need to take the time to experience the presence of God in our lives.
It is said that prayer changes things, I believe prayer also changes the pray er, the person who prays.
In His presence we receive comfort, we receive strength, we receive peace, we receive guidance.
Prayer must be central to our lives, we must never allow ourselves to be too busy to pray.
Our deepest needs are met by God through prayer.
A Christian life without prayer is like a sports car without fuel - it may look impressive and powerful but it will not go anywhere.
Satan hates it when God’s people pray,
he is happy when we allow other things to get in the way so that we do not take the time to pray.
Maybe some people find it easier to act Christian than to spend time with God in prayer.
But God desires a real relationship with us.
We need to spend time talking to Him.
Quality time - not just thirty seconds here, or two minutes there.
Time with God is never wasted time.
We must make time for Him.
God wants us to pray to Him and meet with Him.
We must never be too busy to be still.
Examine your day, what have you filled it with that you have made more important than time with God?
Take a step back, look at your activities, and plan to put God in first place on your list.
God first - before everything and everyone else - not last.
Prayer first - not last.
Speak to Him.
Depend on Him.
Trust Him.
Ask for His blessing.
Seek His will and purpose in your life.
Ask the Holy Spirit to work in your life.
Rely on Him.
Be still and know He is God.
Jeremiah 29:13 says If you look for God wholeheartedly, you will find Him.
Matthew 7:7-8 says “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened”
Are you looking?
Are you asking?
Are you seeking?
Are you receiving?
Are you praying?
When trouble comes do you pray?
When your driving, pray!
When you wake up, pray!
When you go to sleep, pray!
Be still and pray.
Be active and pray.
But remember to make time to pray!
God is calling us to an abundant life, a life of prayer.
Prayer is important to God and it should be important to you and to me.
As I draw to a close, let me encourage you:
Whatever your goals may be for this week, whatever is on your already on your to do list,
make sure time with God is the top of your list.
God is always near & available to us.
God never puts us on hold.
God is always available and will listen when you speak to Him in prayer.
Some of our problems may be small, but others are big, and God can help you in every situation.
God’s power is greater than anything in all this world.
Take the time to pray.
Make time to be still and know that He is God.
Let’s pray.
BE - God, I say ‘yes’ to You. I choose to allow Your way to shape me and Your will to direct me in what is best. I surrender instead of resist, I yield instead of fight, I believe instead of doubt.
STILL - Father, may Your rest abide and Your peace abound within me. Quiet all anxiety that troubles my thoughts and unsettles my emotions. I bring my soul under the control of the Holy Spirit; I stand steady upon the unmovable foundations of Your kingdom; I receive the sufficiency of Your grace and the encouragement of Your promises as you calm my soul.
AND KNOW - Lord, thank you that Your word is sure, unchanging, and indisputable. Your word is true. I am certain. You have saved me from guessing, wondering, wishing, or pretending. I know! I believe!
I AM GOD - You are who You say You are. You do what You say You do. There is no other! You are the highest, the greatest, the best. You have no weakness, no lack, and no equal. You are my God, and my Heavenly Father. I find comfort in Your nearness, security in Your voice, courage in Your strength, hope in Your promises. You are enough. More than enough! You are with me. You are my refuge. I am safe in Your care.
AMEN
